Valve actuating means



Feb. Z7, 1945.

E, P. DE CRAENE ET AL VALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed March 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M623 6 fi'o ardj z 7267724 Q9" 1945- E. P. D: CRAENE ETAL 2,370,604

VALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed March 2, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. P. DE CRAENE AL VALVE ACTUATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1944 6 a J. a w fl 31 6 7. Mg z {M M .TI l v Feb. 27, 1945.

E. P. DE CRAENE ETAL 2,370,604

VALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed March 2, 19

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES; PATENT orries andset 7' Edmond P. De Craene, Westchestcr', and Richard. I Fennema,,.-Ghicag o,. 111., assignorsto Crane 00., Chicago, 111;, a. corporation of Illinois Application March 2, 1944, serial- No. 524,798

4 Claims. --(.cl..r4-'-s20l This invention relates totoggle mechanisms adapted for use-on valves and is a continuationi-n-part of our copending application filed September 21, 1942, under Serial No.45'9 ,204, as shown in Figs. l to 8, inclusive, in the draw ings. The remaining Figs. 9, lO -and 11 the drawings-show new and further improvements in toggle mechanisms,- not disclosed in our copend ing application, wherein adjustment means are provided on both the tie rods and toggle arms.

Although toggle mechanisms have been widely employed for, operating closure members for valves, they have heretoforebeendifficult to mount in proper align-mentwith valve closure stemsand actuating means therefor due toinaccuracies in machining. As a result of misalignment of the 'toggle arms and tie rods with respect to the valve stem and each other, the several parts'would either bind or require an excessive amount of power for operation, or would bend the'valve stem or subject same and the bearings therefor tosevere wear and short service life] I It is, therefore, an object'of this invention to provide means for properly aligning the tie rods and toggle arms with respectto each other and with a valve stem to 'overcomeinaccuracies in machining and to insureproper operation and a long service life." a

It is a further object of this invention to provid'e adjustment means for increasing or decre-asing the operating length'o'f the rods andtoggle arms. I l v This invention embodies other novel features, details" of construction-and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accom-- individual tie panying drawings, forming part thereof, where- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross' section, showing one form or toggle mechanism embodying features of this invention. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary-sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFi'g. 1.,

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectional view of the Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the of a toggle arm used in the valve'shown in Fig. 5.-

Figs 7 is an end view of the; eccentric shaft used" with the toggle armshown in 6.

Fig. '8 is a planview of the eccentric shaft shown in Fig.7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation showing a, modified form. of this invention in which both the tie rods and" toggle arms are provided with eccentric bushings. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4', inclusive.

10-40 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1-0 is a sectional viewtaken along the line Fig. 11 is a fragmentarydetail view in side.

elevation showinga modification of the toggle mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the tie rods and togglearms are provided with eccentric bushings for adjustability.

Similar reference numerals refer in the various figures. V 7

As shown in the drawings and referring specifically to. Fig. 1', the reference numeral l indicates generally the customaryvalve body having the inlet and outlet ports 2 and 3 respectively, with the seat. 4 supporting the renewable seat ring 6, the disc or closure member Lthe disc stem ring 8,;the bonnet 9., the packing H, the packing gland IZ'and the gland follower 13. A threaded toggle shaft l4; is actuated. by suitable rotation of'the spur gear-16., Approximately one-half to like parts of the stem or shaft I4 is threaded, as indicated,

withright hand screw threads, and theot'her half threadedwith left hand screw-threads. Preferably the pairs of toggle arms I! and I8 are pivotally attached at their lowerends to the stem 19 which is. directly connected to the valve closure member 15 forreciprocal, movement there of in opening and closing the valve. The upper ends r the togglearms l1 and I8 are provided with the internally screw-threaded blocks 2| nd 2-2 respectively, for threaded engagement with the shaft 14. Therefore it is apparent that upon rotation of the toggle shaft l4 the toggle arms l'l and I8 move inwardly or outwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft I4. Thus'when the toggle arms move outwardly the stem t9 of. the valve is; raised, lifting the closure member 1; from its valveseat at'fi'. When the toggle arms I! and Rare moved inwardly along the toggle shaft 14, the'stem- [9 of the valve-to be operated is moved downwardly'and the. closure member 1 is 'moved to a seated position on the body seat ring 6. Preferably, the screwthreade'd'blocks'll and 22 do not frictionally r contact the upper links 23 because the movable toggle arms IT and f8, as-best shown in Fig. 2, areprovided with the roller bearings 24 and 26 at their upper portion. forrolling contact-with the links 23, thereby reducing friction to a mininum. It will be thus apparent that the entire load 'of seating the valve closure member is transthe links will receive the load instead of the I toggle shaft I4 when the valve is being closed.

The links 23 are held against endwise displace:

ment by means of the end bearing brackets provided on the supporting member to receive the shaft I4.

Reference to Fig. 1 shows a. combined *method I of hand and hydraulic means of operation, the

details of which are not elaborated upon herein 1 in view of being more thoroughly covered in U. S.

patent application Serial No. 407,472, filed August 19, 1941, of which weare co-inventors, now U. S. Patent No. 2,348,460, granted May 9, 1944. The

hand lever 9| pivoted at 92 disengages a clutch (not shown) which engages gears in the housing 89. The plug 86 is pulled upwardly and the handwheel 84 is pushed inwardly to permit desired clutch engagement, so that upon rotation of the handwheel 84, the spur gear pinion 8| is rotated which in turn rotates the gear 82, the latter being keyed to the toggle shaft I4. Thus the valve can be operated hydraulically by'means of the piping 83 from a remote position, or locally by means of the handwheel 84, as desired.

As a significant element of the presentinvention relating to the adjustable toggle mechanism, attention is specially directed to the pairs of eccentric bushings 34 and 38 employed at the connecting points 32 and 33 of the tie rods 21 and 28 respectively. By reason of such construction, adjustment may easily be made in the length of the tie rods so as to secure the. desired predetermined distance between the'shaft .I4fand the links 23. After the eccentric bushingsv 34 and 36 are properly adjusted by suitable. rotation, each is affixed in the desired position by the pairs of set screws 31 and 38. Figs. 3 and .4 show enlarged views of the eccentric bushings 34 .or 35. Note that in its eccentricity, the bushing 34 consists of a cylindrical portion having wall sections of various thicknesses ranging from the relatively thin section, as shown at .39, ,to the heavier section, as shown at 4!. The eccentric bushings 34 or 36 are equipped with-hexagonal end flanges 42 by means of which thee'cceiitric bushings may be rotated until the proper length in the tie rods 21 and 28 is obtained, the varying wall thickness producing such effective adjustability. I

It is readily apparent that the eccentric bushings shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be similarly used at the other end of the tie rods at Hand 3| in order to'accomplish the same result, or if desired, the eccentric bushings couldbe used at either end of the togglearms IIorv I8.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a valve bonnet or upper portion 43 which may be fastened to a 5I are formed with the apertures 52, the latter being formed to accommodate pins'53 which serve as a pivotal mounting for the supporting members or arms 54 and 56. The usual stem 51, reciprocably movable, is journaled within the valve bonnet and is provided with a cross piece 58 secured to the upper end thereof by means of the nut 59. At the extremities of the cross member 58, the drilled holes 6| and 62 are provided and adapted to receive respectively the eccentric pins 63 and 64, the pins being utilized to pivotally mount the operating members or arms 66 and 61 respectively, as well as to provide for accurate adjustment of the length of the arms 66 and 61 in order that the small angles between the arms 6661 and 54'56 may be properly coordinated 'in order to give the proper resultant force downwardly or upwardly upon actuation of the valve stem 51. The toggle arms, preferably arranged in pairs, are connected at their upper end to the toggle blocks 68 and 69 respectively, by means of which the toggle shaft H is engaged.

As best shown in the magnified view in Fig. 6. the end of each of the toggle arms 66 and 61 is provided with a circular aperture I2 adapted to be aligned with the drilled holes GI and 62 in the crosshead 58. The apertured toggle arm end is additionally provided with a threaded hole I3 adapted to receive a set screw which, when the eccentric shaft as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is in the proper desired position, is tightened to pre vent'further rotation of the shaft and therefore precludes changes in toggle arm lengths. The eccentric pins either 63 or 64, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are provided wth true cylindrical end portions I4 and I6 which are adapted to be received in the apertured toggle arms 66 and 61 at I2. The central eccentric cylindrical portion 'II ofv the shaft 63 acts in conjunction with the crosshead 58'within the apertures 6| and 62 so that when the eccentric shaft is rotated by means of a tool acting within the end slot I8 the crosshead may be either raised or lowered as necessary. Here similarly after proper adjustment of the eccentric shaft has been made the set screws are tightened within the threaded holes I3 to lock the shaft in its adjusted position.

The positioning of the eccentric shaft may-of course be provided at any of the other pivot points for the toggle arms and operate in a like manner. The exact location therefore is a matter ofrconvenience 'as well as locating the ec centric shaft where it will do the most good.

' Fig. 9 shows'a further modification of this invention in which the tie rods 2'! and 28'are provided with eccentric bushings 34 and 36 respectively, and the toggle arms I I and I8 are also provided with eccentric bushings IBI and I82, respectively, for the purpose of adjusting same. Asshown more clearly in Fig. 10, each pair of toggle arms is pivotally connected to opposite sides of a cross member I83 by means of a pin I84 secured in position by a set screw I88. The eccentric bushingsare journaled on the ends of the pins for engagement in apertures I81 provided in the toggle arms and, after adjustment-of same, are locked'inposition in their respective arms by means of set screws I88. This form of invention is otherwise similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Fig. 11 shows a modification of the toggle mechanism shown in Fig. 5 in which eccentric bushings I89 and I9I are provided for the toggle arms 66 and 61, respectively, in accordancewith Fig. 10; andeccentric bushings I92 and I93 -are collar, actuating means pivotally engaging the upper ends of said toggle arms, tie rods having their lower ends pivotally connected to said body, link members connected to the upper ends of said tie rods and engaged by the upper ends of said. toggle arms, means for adjusting the position of said link members angularly and vertically and means for preventing .endwise displacement 01 said link members.

2. In a toggle :mechanism, a body, a stem mounted for reciprocable movement in said body, a collar mounted on said stem, toggle arms having their lower ends pivotally connected to said collar, actuating means pivotally engaging the upper ends of said toggle arms, tie rodshaving their lower ends pivotally connected to said body, adjustable link members connected to the upper ends of said tie rods and engaged by the upper ends of said toggle arms, eccentric means for adjusting the position of said linkmembers angularly and vertically, and supporting means coacting with said adjustable link members to prevent endwise displacement of the adjustable link members. v

3. Ina toggle mechanism, a body, a stem mounted for reciprocable movement in said body, a collar mounted on said stem, toggle arms having their lower ends pivotally connected .to said collar, actuating means pivotally engaging the upper ends of said toggle arms, tie rods having their lower ends pivotally connected to said body,

link members connected to the upper ends of said tie rods and engaged by the upper ends of said toggle arms, eccentric means for adjusting theposition of said link members angularly and vertically, and means for locking said eccentric means.

4. In a toggle mechanism, a body, a stem mounted for reciprocable movement in said body, a collar mounted on said stem, toggle arms having their lower ends pivotally connected to said collar, actuating means pivotally engaging the upper ends of said toggle arms, tie rods having their lower ends pivotally connected to said body, link members connected to the upper ends of said tie rods and engaged by the upper ends of said toggle arms, eccentric means for adjusting the position of said link members angularly and vertically, means for locking said eccentric means, and means for holding the link members against endwise displacement.

EDMOND P. DE CRAENE. RICHARD FENNEMA. 

